David Johnston-Keay > Irwin Mitchell > Sheffield, England > Lawyer Profile

Irwin Mitchell retains its eminent reputation through the combination of its large team of personal injury experts, its track record of securing excellent rehabilitation, and its strong and established local and national presence. Adrian Budgen leads the practice in Sheffield, specialising in asbestos and workplace illness, while Sion Kingston heads the team in Leeds and focusses on a range of catastrophic injuries. The significant depth of the wider team is illustrated by the preponderance of seasoned experts, including Louise Jenkins, who specialises in brain injuries; Carolyn Heaton, who leads on neurotrauma; Rachael Aram, who manages work in serious injury; Ian Toft, who works on life-limiting disease; Claire Newstead, who is in charge of polytrauma matters; and David Johnston-Keay, who focusses on occupational disease claims. David Withers works on high severity claims and has advocacy experience before inquests and trials.

Irwin Mitchell is known as a ‘genuine national leader for technical know-how and experience in group litigation’, with a pre-eminent practice in claims related to defective products, medical negligence, and travel illness. Cases undertaken are often highly publicised, with the team notable having acted on the Boeing 737 claims and Lariam claims brought against the Ministry of Defence. The leadership of the team is split four ways, with Tim Annett, Sallie Booth, David Johnston-Keay  and senior associate Jatinder Paul  all sitting at the helm of the practice. Also of note is Natalie Truman, who is commended for her clinical negligence work, and is ‘great in group claims’.